The House Health Care and Wellness Committee on Tuesday approved two bills aimed at making health care easier to obtain for those who live in border communities like Vancouver.

Senate Bill 5524 would allow Washington pharmacists to fill prescriptions written by out-of-state physician assistants. Currently, Washington pharmacies may fill prescriptions written by doctors, dentists and others who are not licensed in the state. The legislation would expand this list to include physician assistants.

Her involvement in the health care industry spurred her to sponsor SB 5524, because it would improve access to health care, she said.

It would especially help those in border communities like Vancouver, where many residents work or travel to Oregon on a regular basis. These frequent commuters may go to a doctor’s office in Portland but get their prescription filled in Vancouver, Cleveland said. This bill would make it easier for them to do that, she said.

It would also make it easier for Vancouver residents to spend their money in the community, rather than spending it out-of-state, she said.

Cleveland’s bill, which has bipartisan support (Sen. Don Benton, R-Vancouver, has also signed on), passed unanimously in the Senate in early March. She expects it to do just as well in the Democrat-controlled House, she said.

The committee also voted in favor of a related bill. Senate Bill 5540 would allow Washington residents to buy health insurance from out-of-state carriers.

Beginning July 1, 2014, the state insurance commissioner would be able to contract with other states to set up and operate a consortium to oversee the sale of certain qualifying plans in the small group market.

This bill, which has bipartisan support, also passed unanimously in the Senate. It will likely do well in the House.